Universiade (rugby sevens): Canada held to one win on opening day

KAZAN, Russia (Team Canada) – Canada was held to one win in four matches Sunday on opening day of rugby sevens, a sport making its Universiade debut in 2013.

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013 

Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #gocanada

Summer Universiade website: www.kazan2013.com/en

Two losses have eliminated the Canadians from medal contention in the twelve-team men’s tournament, but the day ended on a positive note when the women’s squad topped Japan.

A 27-10 victory over the Japanese (0-2) evened Canada’s record at 1-1. The team also dropped a 38-7 decision in their opening match with Russia.

Against Japan, Canada started the game on a positive note when they brought down a streaking attacker on the wing. That established the good tackling which would carry the red and white to the win.

Chelsea Guthrie of Edmonton (University of Alberta) opened the scoring by kicking the ball on ahead to herself down the middle of the pitch to gain field position and then finished off a passing play to the corner. Guthrie struck once more in the first half, taking advantage of a Japanese player going down with an injury mid-play.

Tiera Thomas-Reynolds of Scarborough, Ont. (York) also scored two tries and showed her acceleration by easily beating her defenders to the sideline.

Japan got on board with final play of first half, narrowly pushing the ball over the line. Canada extended their 15-5 halftime lead to 20-5 before Caroline Suchorski of Kirkland, Que. (McGill) scored the final try of the match.

In the opener, fly half Brianna Miller of Pointe-Claire, Que. (McGill) scored a first half try but the tournament favourites shut out the Canucks in the second half on the way to their first of three victories on day one. Canada’s point total of seven was the highest of the day against the Russians.

Canada will face France (1-2) and Ukraine (1-1) at 10:22 a.m. and 1:18 p.m. (2:22 a.m. and 5:18 a.m. ET) tomorrow to wrap up preliminary round action. The top four teams in Pool A advance to Tuesday’s quarter finals.

On the men’s side, Canada was blanked 45-0 by the home Russian squad before coming back with a strong performance against Poland. The Canucks held a 10-0 lead until Poland stormed back to score 24 unanswered points, lifting them to a 24-15 win.

Liam Murphy-Burke of White Rock, B.C. (UBC) and Eric Howard d'Ottawa (Guelph) scored in the first as the red and white maintained good possession and field position to open the game. The Canadians had another golden opportunity to score when three players broke in with space, but an errant pass was intercepted.

Poland made the most of their limited opportunities in the first half, scoring on two long runs and adding one successful convert to lead 12-10 at half.

Polish scoring leader Szymon Sirocki struck for the second time to open the second half, stopping on a dime to change directions and get past two Canadian defenders. Sirocki then collected a kicked pass out of a crowd on the open side and ran in his third try of the match.

Canada added another try in the final minute, with Joe Newman barging through to within 5 yards of the tryline and passing off to Byron Boville for the final score of the game.

Both Russia and Poland will move through into the quarter finals from Group A, as Canada’s next opponent, Ukraine, also fell twice today. The 11:28 a.m. local time (3:28 a.m. ET) match will determine third and fourth place in the preliminary round, for consolation bracket seeding.

BOXSCORE (Men vs Russia):  Canada Men vs Russia

BOXSCORE (Men vs Poland): Canada Men vs Poland

BOXSCORE (Women vs Russia): Canada Women vs Russia

BOXSCORE (Women vs Japan):  Canada Women vs Japan